Piccadilly Theatre: Ceiling collapses, injuring audience members

Several people were injured in a roof collapse during a show at the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End.

The venue in Denman Street was packed for a performance of the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman.

Screaming was heard from the circle when the partial ceiling collapse happened just before 20:00 GMT. Some theatre-goers left covered in debris.

More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the venue, the Met Police said.

Image copyrightPA Media

Image caption Rescue units were sent to the theatre by London Fire Brigade after the collapse

Five members of the audience needed hospital treatment for minor injuries, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) said.

Wendell Pierce, who plays Willy Loman in the show – which only opened on Monday – apologised to those who had been evacuated.

Image copyrightGetty Images

Image caption Wendell Pierce with Dominic West, his co-star from acclaimed crime drama The Wire, at the play’s opening night on Monday

A video shared on social media shows the US actor outside the theatre asking the crowd to come back and see the play another time.

“We’re so honoured that you came tonight. We are so sorry that this happened,” he said.

BBC journalist Iain Haddow, who was in the audience, said the collapse happened about 20 minutes into the show.

He said that before the collapse there had been a steady drop of water “which turned progressively into a stream” – although it was not raining at the time – and said there was some panic when the ceiling fell in.

Outside the theatre, including on the roof, he said there was scaffolding and building work going on.